The National Concerned Small Scale Miners Association in Ghana has issued a call to citizens adversely affected by the ongoing economic challenges, urging them not to cast their votes for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the upcoming December 7 elections.The association asserts that the NPP's ban on small-scale mining has significantly impacted its members.

In a press release signed by its President, Michael Kwadwo Peprah, the association stated, "We wish to call on all well-meaning Ghanaians and small-scale miners whose livelihoods have been shattered by the NPP in the last seven years due to the insensitive ban on small-scale mining to reject the party at the polls, come December 2024."

The small-scale miners also directed a query towards Dr. Bawumia, requesting clarity on how he plans to revitalize the small-scale mining sector after, as they allege, contributing to its decline alongside President Akufo-Addo.

Citing evidence, the association claims that the current state of the small-scale mining sector predominantly benefits the NPP and its affiliates. They argue that promises made by Dr. Bawumia, such as decentralizing the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as well as establishing district mining committees, have not materialized. The collapse of local banks that were key financiers for small-scale mining operations is also attributed to the government's actions.

Additionally, the association dismisses government initiatives like Galamstop, the introduction of drone technology, and the mapping of concessions as ineffective and wasteful endeavors. They highlight the military's retention of over 200 excavators belonging to small-scale miners and other investors as indicative of the NPP's alleged inability to salvage the small-scale mining sector.

“We wish to call on all well-meaning Ghanaians and small-scale miners whose livelihoods have been shattered by the NPP in the last seven years due to the insensitive ban on small scale mining to reject the party at the polls, come December, 2024,” the Association urged in a press release signed by its President, Michael Kwadwo Peprah.

“We wish by this press release to remind and also ask Dr. Bawumia to tell us how he intends to rescue the small-scale mining sector after helping Nana Akufo-Addo to collapse same,” the small-scale miners demanded.

They alleged that, “There is incontrovertible evidence that the current state of things in the small-scale mining sector only benefits the NPP and its apparatchiks, local banks which were the primary source of financing for small scale mining operations like UniBank, UT Bank and GN Bank were collapsed under the shady banking sector clean up, the promise by Dr. Bawumia to decentralize the Minerals Commission and the EPA, and to set up district mining committees is nothing but an empty promise; in any case, his boss vowed to put his presidency on the line to fight galamsey, but the opposite is what pertains today.”

The Association further alleged that, “Programmes like Galamstop and the introduction of drone technology, mapping of concessions and tracking of excavators that were haphazardly instituted by this government was nothing but a waste of taxpayers’ money, and the fact that the military continues to hold over 200 excavators belonging to small scale miners and other investors in the small-scale mining sector, only goes to cement the fact that, the NPP and their flag bearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia lacks the acumen to steer the salvage the small scale mining sector.”